Carleton College Top Questions

What is the stereotype of students at your school?

Caitlin

The most common words used to describe Carleton students are "quirky" and "nerdy." Quirky because they are all unique and a bit odd--most people have a special talent or an offbeat hobby. Nerdy because they are not only intelligent, but they enjoy classes and want to discuss academic subjects outside of the classroom. Other less positive stereotypes are that Carleton students are socially awkward and/or not very attractive. These mostly stem from the existence of their "rival" college, St. Olaf College. St. Olaf students are supposedly the dumber, prettier ones and Carleton students are the smarter, but uglier ones.

Ainsley

Students are quirky, Minnesota is frigid in the winter.

Broderick

We are very quirky. We are active in whatever we participate in (i.e. extracurriculars). We were once voted to be the happiest students in any college/university institution in the United States.

Kristin

That they're liberal, quirky, work hard, and drink a lot.

Andy

Kids are a bit nerdy or weird.

Robert

Carleton is supposed to be in the middle of nowhere Minnesota, full of adorable, quirky, socially awkward, nerdy, exceedingly nice, and super smart students.

Dan

The stereotype of a Carleton student is somewhere between a hippy and a nerd; Imagine someone hugging a tree and blogging about it at the same time, and you're almost there. The big word that is supposed to define Carleton is quirky.

Caitlin

Stereotypically we are nerdy, and stereotypically we don't dress very well.

Kathleen

That we're ugly, smart, and nice.

Daphne

nerdy, quirky, not too centered on appearance (i.e. not very attractive), smart, very nice, unassuming, friendly, love frisbee

Julie

The admissions department will tell you about how much students work together in study groups and on projects. Coming from Massachusetts, there aren't very many stereotypes about Carleton because most people have never heard of it. I've had this conversation a number of times: Person: Where are you going to college? Me: Carleton. Person thinks: I've never heard of that school, it must not be very good. Person: Where's that? Me: It's in Minnesota. Person thinks: Oh, maybe that's why I've never heard of it, but I have to be careful it case it's not very good. Person: It must be so cold there.

Taylor

Very Liberal, Hippyish, Unattractive student body, especially the girls. Everyone loves frisbee. Everybody is white. Everybody is extremely friendly.

Louise

Hippies, Ugly, Smart, Awkward, Work Hard Party Hard Mentality, and probably some others.

Nate

All Carleton students are awkward. All the girls are unattractive.

Rachel

nerdy, smart

Rob

They are very intellegent, but not very pretty.

Jacob

Carleton students are seen as somewhat quirky. Perhaps even nerdy. We are also viewed as a student-body that is constantly working on academics.

Tate

Carleton students are "nerdy" in a good way and extremely smart. Each person at Carleton has a unique attribute that his or her peers love and relish.

Shannon

We're smart and quirky, but socially awkward and not all that attractive.

Rose

that we are "quirky" poorly dressed, really nerdy, and chill.

Jane

A bunch of stinky and gross hippies that happen to be smart.

Ethan

Many people think that Carleton is filled with a bunch of squints bundled up in a arctic wonderland.

Emma

that they all play frisbee and are dorky athletes. and the other half are potheads. and the other half is frisbee players who are potheads.

Dawson

I think many of my non-Carleton peers believe that Carleton students are filled with a bunch of nerdy kids that are socially awkward and do not know how to have fun.

Sandy

nerdy, quirky, tree-hugging

Dan

People here are generally not socially gifted.

Julian

quirky, dirty, ugly

Annie

birkenstocks, frisbee playing, progressive, really nerdy

Tricia

socially awkward - that's most of it. that there is an old carleton and a new carleton, with a "new" type of student.

Hannah

We are tree-hugging, quirky, unattractive, awkward nerds.

Jessica

weird, ugly, pompous, smart, eccentric

Matt

they don't dress nice.

Meredith

like frisbee. "quirky," and that means kind of unusual sense of humor. ugly.

Kelly

Awkward, more and more elite, geeky, hipster-esque

Lorie

geeky, academic

Allie

Nerds. All nerds.

Nicole

Socially retarded (eg: mild Asperger's Syndrome) - Off-kilter and whimsical - Studious

Corey

nerdy, hippies, ugly (but we're not!), rich, smart

Ray

Smart students who work hard, ugly girls, relative (to liberal arts schools) party school, down to earth, liberal, economically well off, small school, strong academics, good professors, cold winters.

Carolyn

That we're "quirky." And liberal.

Andy

Highly intellectual, indifferent to physical appearances (such as make-up, clothing), busy and involved in five or more activities, environmentally and culturally aware, interested in topics of global interest

Alex

That it's really cold, the kids are quirky/nerdy and the girls are ugly.

Rafael

Some of the stereotypes about Carleton and Carleton students are that we party a lot. That we don't have pretty girls. That we are a very liberal college. That Carleton is academically rigorous.

Jessica

Carleton is a laid back college were everyone can be an individual/unique. There is a strong academic focus, but Carleton students are also very involved in other activities. Students are almost over-involved.

Alex

The biggest stereotype is that all Carleton students are ugly. Some other ones would be that everybody is rich and really pretentious. And liberal.

Rachel

Really smart kids who don't take themselves too seriously, who are quirky and know how to have fun.

Kendall

Carleton students are QUIRKY! Omg. We are all very engaged and discuss current events and classes. Everyone is very accepting of each other and people and classes are open and fun.

Ryan

That Carleton kids are "crunchy", super liberal, smart, politically active...

Tim

Crunchie, not very ascetically minded, hard working, smart, good people, nice to each other, homogeneous.

Lisa

Carleton students are known for being atypical--its really hard to say what the "typical" Carleton student is because they represent a huge range of interests and personalities. Also, students are known for always studying.